The Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program awarded the Faculty and Alumni Scholarship at its closing banquet on January 10, 2020. The Faculty and Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually to one or more incoming students at the M.A. level of the Wilkes creative writing program based on financial need and a writing sample submitted as part of the application materials. The scholarship recipient(s) will be determined by a three-member faculty committee who will recommend the student(s) to the program director. This scholarship was started to offer a scholarship opportunity to students who are new to the program and was funded through tax-deductible gifts from faculty and alumni. About the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing Wilkes University's Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers the master of arts and master of fine art degrees in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, publishing and documentary film. Program faculty are working, producing writers who mentor students one-on-one through the process of creating a full-length creative project. The Graduate Creative Writing program is offered in two formats. In the low-residency format, students learn online and attend two eight-day residencies each January and June. For the weekender program, students will learn online and attend four face-to-face weekend class sessions each term. For more information, please visit www.wilkes.edu/cw or call 570-408-4527.

Wilkes University interim Provost Terese Wignot announced the Dean's List for the fall 2019 semester. To be named to the Dean's List, students must obtain a minimum 3.5 grade point average and carry at least 12 credits.

Wilkes University awarded 302 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees when it held its winter commencement ceremony on January 19. The event was held in the Arnaud C. Marts Center, 274 South Franklin St. in Wilkes-Barre. Wilkes interim President Paul S. Adams presided at the event. The commencement address was delivered by Paul Riggs, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University. Kristin Donati, who received her master of business administration degree at the ceremony, was the student speaker. Donati is associate director of graduate enrollment at Wilkes University.

Three Wilkes University students were awarded the Dr. Joseph Donald Stephens, DDS Global Scholars Award. The award provides students with scholarships to enhance their education via study abroad opportunities. The award was established by Panos Kalaritis, a member of Wilkes University's Class of 1977, and his wife, Deborah Stephens Kalaritis, a member of the Class of 1978, in honor of her father, who also graduated from Wilkes in 1951.

Wilkes University mechanical engineering and engineering management majors presented their senior projects and demonstrated them at an event on Nov. 23. It was attended by faculty, friends and family. Engineering students in the University's College of Science and Engineering are required to complete a senior project as part of the requirements to complete their degrees.

The Wilkes University student team tied for first place in a competition challenging students to come up with a campaign promoting the 250th anniversary of American independence in Pennsylvania. Eight institutions from the northeast region competed in the marketing event America250PA Direct Effect Innovation Challenge on Oct. 26. Now, the Wilkes team is headed to statewide finals on Nov. 19 to compete against other regional winners.

Wilkes University Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical, Nine. The performances will take place on Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 16 and 17 at 2 p.m. The production is at Wilkes' Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts, 239 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre.

The Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy was awarded the 2019 Public Relations and Awareness Award from the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). The students were recognized at the organization's annual conference held at Seven Springs Resort on Sept. 21, in Champion, Pa.

Wilkes University students are participating in internships for the fall 2019 semester.

Wilkes University welcomes more than 500 students into the University's newest class.

During summer 2019, undergraduate students at Wilkes University engaged in research. Working with faculty on meaningful research is one of the hallmarks of a Wilkes education. Students at Wilkes have all of the educational opportunities of a large university in the mentoring culture of a small college.

Wilkes University's Air Force ROTC Detachment 752 held a commissioning ceremony on May 17 in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Students from Wilkes University, King's College, Marywood, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Misericordia University, University of Scranton and East Stroudsburg University were commissioned and received the rank of second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Kya Lewis of Secane, Pa., 19018 received the Alumni Leadership Award at Wilkes University's 72nd Annual Spring Commencement on May 18. This award is given by the Wilkes University Alumni Association to the member of the graduating class considered to have made the strongest contribution to student life and the student activities program of the University. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, magna cum laude degree in management. Lewis is a two-term president of programming board, the student activities organization on campus. She was also the hip-hop director for the student-run radio station, WCLH. She served as a resident assistant and as orientation coordinator. Last fall, Lewis was selected as homecoming queen. After graduation, she will pursue her MBA at Wilkes and serve as a graduate assistant in the Admissions office. Lewis is the daughter of Sharon Lewis-Gregg and Wesley Gregg.

Eight Wilkes University students participated in a LEAP-AB trip to Dominican Republic March 2-9. LEAP-AB stands for Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Partnerships-Alternative Break, coined by student leaders in 2016. Students worked with the organization Guanin, which aims to help young people discover, develop, and achieve their full potential as adults, citizens and leaders. Students donated their time doing work which addressed English as a second language and habitat and community outreach in a women's health initiative. The students shared information about women's health issues such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and hygiene.

Nine Wilkes University students were inducted as associate members into the Theta Delta Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta national biological honor society during an induction ceremony held during the fall 2018 semester. Associate members are sophomores and juniors who have completed fewer than 16 biology credits with at least a 3.25 grade point average and a 3.0 overall GPA. Beta Beta Beta was founded in 1922 at Oklahoma City University by Dr. Frank G. Brooks and his students. The idea of an honor society and professional society for biology students spread and by 1925 the society became a national organization. The Theta Delta Chapter was installed at Wilkes in 2001.

Five Wilkes University students were inducted into Pi Kappa Delta, the speech and debate/forensics honor society. In order to become a member, students must participate in three competitive events throughout the school year, participate in the speech and debate team sponsored community service event and attend weekly practices and meetings. A ceremony for their induction was held on Nov. 1, 2018.

Wilkes University student James Dotter was named the production assistant for WilkesNow. WilkesNow is a student-run television program which educates young media professionals and provides services to the local community on cable channel 97 for Service Electric Cable, Wilkes-Barre, and one closed-circuit channel. He also serves as the sports production assistant for WCLH. WCLH is an independent, specialty programming radio station operated by Wilkes students.

Seventeen Wilkes University students have been appointed to the President's Student Advisory Council for the current academic year

Wilkes University recognized more than 95 students, faculty and staff at the Extracurricular Awards Luncheon for their contributions to activities outside the classroom.

Wilkes University student pharmacists Rachel Wood and Katelyn Jimison from the Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, participated in the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association annual Pharmacy Legislative Day on April 16. Held at the Capital Complex, over 250 students attended to help fight for fair reimbursement. While there, they presented an information board on medication disposal. It explained the importance of proper medication disposal while handing out bags which are used to safely dispose medications.

The students elected to the Executive Board of Wilkes University's Student Government are are asked to represent the entire student body, acting as a liaison between the students and administration. They plan and coordinate activities on campus, and promote fellowship, scholarship, and the name of Wilkes University.

Wilkes University's Nesbitt School of Pharmacy announced residency placements for students receiving the doctor of pharmacy degree in May 2017. Wilkes continued to match pharmacy students seeking residency training at a rate above the national average. Nationally, there were 3,497 residency positions offered and 5,160 applicants. Sixty-eight percent of those who applied for residencies were matched with a program.